Electric sign



Feb; 8,1938; 7 M; s. RUPP ELECTRIC SIGN Filed April 10, 1936 7&2/672104 7726022: ijzzo o o Patented Feb. 8 1938 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SIGN MaxG; Rupp, Chicago, Ill. Application April 10, 1936, Serial No. 73,612

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric signs. I 1 I One objectof the invention is, to provide an electric sign comprising a piece of glass on which is ,etched', sandblasted, painted or otherwise formed the. advertising word or words or designs which are illuminated by light directed edgewise through the glass, the device being provided with meansvfor varying the color of the illuminated sign automatically.

Another object-of the invention is to provide mechanism for varying the color of the illuminated letters or characters which can be operated by either direct or alternating current and which is so arrangedthat it can be concealed within an ornamental base or top casing which supports the glass. 1

. A furtherobject is to provide an intermittent electro-magnetica-lly operated mechanism for changing the color of the illuminated letters, words or characters of the sign, thereby eliminating; theuse of a motor or other relatively costly Otherobjects relate to various featuresof construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sign embodying the present improvements. 1

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the base of the sign with-the upper portion thereof removed.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the base of the casing the upper section being removed.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the line and in the direction of the arrow 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 65 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a center view of a form of an end plate of the color changing device.

In the drawing, Iii indicates a piece of plate glass having formed therein as by etching the letters of a sign. The letters are etched from one side of the glass and as light passes edgewise through the glass from a source of illumination within the casing ii, the letters or other indicia of the sign become luminous.

The glass is supported along one edge by the top portion i 2 of the casing l I, the glass being secured to the casing by any approved means so as to expose the inner edge of the glass to the source of light.

transparent material such as glass.

The casing Ii comprises also a base I3 which may be provided withornamental legs i4, when the device is used in the position shown in Figure 1. When the device is inverted, the legs i4 01; course may be omitted.

Secured to the bottom of the base I3 are brackets l5 and i6. Supported by the brackets are ,electro-magnets' l1 and I8 respectively. As will be obvious from the following description one magnet only may be used, if desired.

Extending inwardly from the brackets are short shafts or trunnions l9 and which are made of conducting material and which at their inner ends contact withthe terminals 2| of an elongated electric light bulb 22 having a plurality of spaced filaments 23 therein. The trunnions i9 and 20 are stationary and have mounted thereon supports 24 and 25 for holding narrow strips 26 of colored Each of the members 24 and 25 in the form illustrated, is provided with an inner plate 21 having rectangular openings 28 therein for receiving the ends of the strips 26. Secured to the end member 24 is a pinion 29 which meshes with a gear 30 which is supported on a stub shaft 3| carried by the bracket i5. Also mounted on the shaft 3| and secured to the gear 30 is a ratchet wheel 32, the successive teeth of which are engaged by a ratchet 33 pivoted on a pin 34, which is carried by the arm 35 which at its lower end is fixedto the oscillatable shaft 36. This shaft is journaled near each end thereof in the brackets l5 and I6. At the free ends of the shaft 36 armatures 31 are provided which are attracted to the cores 33 of the respective magnets when the latter are energized.

The outer plate of the member 24 is provided with escapement teeth 39 as shown in Figure 4 which teeth are engaged successively by a stop 40 carried by the arm 35. Thus when the magnets are energized the armatures 31 are moved toward the cores 38 rocking the shaft 36 and swinging the arm 35 to the right or clockwise as viewed in Figure 4. The ratchet 33 being in engagement with the ratchet wheel 32 moves the same clockwise, thus rotating the gear 30 in the same direction and the pinion 28 counter-clockwise.

The gear train and ratchet mechanism are arranged to move the pinion 28 at each stroke of the armatures, and consequently the color changing device, a distance suflicient to interpose the colored strips 26 successively between the lamp 22 and the inner edge of the glass I0. Thus as the device operates. the color of the illuminated indicia of the sign changes successively, presenting a very attractive advertising sign.

As shown in Figure 1, the members 24- and 25 are preferably made in two sections 40 and 4|;

, receptacle plug 41.

The lower section 4| carries a bearing 42 rotatable on the respective stub shafts or trunnions l9. and

20, while, the upper section, may be provided with friction means 43 and 44 for rendering said section detachable from the other' wherehy when the upper section is removed, access may be had to the lamp 22 for renewal when necessary.

To operate the magnets the current must be momentarily interrupted to permit the'spring 451 to retract the armatures and the ratchet 33. The interruption of the current is accomplished by means of a conventional flasher plugwhich inFigurel is shown attached to the'conventional These flashers are of well known construction and need not be described. in detail.

The current fiows interruptedly through the conductors 48 to the coils of the magnets which are shown connected in'series. jI'he lamp is preferably connected in parallel with the magnet by means'of conducting membersj49 which make contact with the respective trunnicns l9 and 20.

In operation, as-soon as; the flasher '46 has become warmqthe current flows interruptedly through the magnets, and the lamp, the light of which in passingthrough one of the colored strips 26, gives the sign a corresponding color.

When the flasher cuts off the current, the spring 45' retracts the armatures and the ratchet 33 and when the circuit is closed again. the succeeding strip is brought into registering positionbetween the lamp and the lower edge of the glass III, to change the color of the sign.

- While I have shown and described an embodiment of my improvements for the purpose of illustration, Ido not wish to be restricted specifically thereto except as, so

limitedby the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising aglass plate, in whichthe indicia of the sign are formed, a casing for supporting said plate, a stationary electric light bulb infisaid casing having end termina1s,'con-- ducting trunnions for connecting said terminals in an electric clrcuit,"a cylindrical ciolorchanging device rotatably mounted on said trunniions, said device'comprising end members carried by said trunnions adjacent each end of saidbulb and a plurality-of differently colored transparent panels spanning said bulb. lengthwise, electromagneticmeans in said casing for rotating. said device intermittently for interposing said panels in succession between said bulb and plate, cir-- cuit conductors. for supplying current tosaid magnetic means and trunnions and a current interrupting member in said circuit for effecting the intermittent energization of said bulb and electro-magnetic means.

2. Ajsig'n comprising ,alglass plate in which the indicia of the sign are formed, a casing for supporting said plate, a stationary electric light bulb in. said: casing having end terminals, conductingmeans and jtrunnions, and a current interrupting "member in said. circuit for effecting the inter mittent energization of said bulb and electromagnetic means, said color changing device having a removable section to. provide access for the removal of said lamp.

3. A sign comprising a glass plate in which the indicia of the sign are formed, a, casing for supporting said plate, anlectrical lamp in said casing aligned'with the lower edge of said plate, conductingfmeans for connecting the terminals of said lamp in'an electric circuit,a colorv changing. device mounted. for intermittent rotation abo'nt'said lamp, saiddevice comprising a plurality of difierently colored transparent panels spanning said lamp lengthwise and arranged for movement into. alignment with the lower edge of said plate, electromagnetic means'in said casing for rotating s'aiddevice intermittently for interposing said'panels in succession between the saidlamp and, plate, circuit conductors for supplying current to saidmagnetic means and lamp. and a thermostatically actuated current interrupting member in said circuit for effecting the inter- -mlttent energizat-ion of said--lamp and electromagnetic means.

' G. RUPP. 

